Mecklin

Before Election Day slipped by, I thought it important to remind San Franciscans of all the compelling reasons to re-elect Terence Hallinan as district attorney:

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Enough of that, then. Wouldn't want Terry to get a big head.

If you rev that modem into fifth gear and dial up sfweekly.com this week, you'll run into a compilation of election information that's as direct as Dirty Harry on a bad morning. We'll tell you why you shouldn't vote for Willie Brown -- and how to cast a ballot for Tom Ammiano -- in great detail. We'll link you up with every basic election factoid any aspiring citizen could hope to process. And we won't quote, or front for, or play stupidly into the slimy little hands of Jack Davis. Not even once.

Of course, our online package also includes a compendium of stories and columns that explore the extraordinary dimensions of Terry Hallinan's multifaceted failure as a district attorney. There are three challengers -- Matt Gonzales, Steve Castleman, and Bill Fazio -- each of whom has the experience and training to re-professionalize the DA's Office, so that San Francisco's crooks -- including the ones in public office -- might once again begin to feel just the tiniest bit of fear that crime can lead to prosecution, or even (gasp!) incarceration. It's not my job to think for you; you'll have to decide on your own whether Gonzales, Castleman, or Fazio fits with your personal political compass. But gosh, if you've been considering voting for Hallinan on ideological grounds, please reconsider your consideration. When it comes to prosecution, a liberal hack is no better than a conservative hack. Either sort will let politics interfere with justice, which is a dangerous thing to do. And we don't need four more years of living dangerously.

John Mecklin (jmecklin@sfweekly.com) can be reached atSF Weekly, 185 Berry, Suite 3800, San Francisco, CA 94107.